Whee! Here’s an exciting announcement courtesy of Kristina at Speakeasy:

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

So said one of the greatest movie villains ever, but many classic films have convinced us quite thoroughly that evil does indeed exist, and usually in the form of a compelling, riveting, powerful character, a villain brought to life by superb writing and acting, then seared into the memory of movie fans.

And so we announce that you are cordially invited to participate in the Great Villain Blogathon, a celebration, an examination, a rumination on your choice of classic movie menace, whether monster or family member. Whether human, fantastical, alien, mineral or animal, whether on horseback or spaceship, clad in toga, trenchcoat or cardigan, whether mantrap, mild mannered or commanding vast armies, write up a post on your favorite movie baddie, doer of dastardly deeds or offender of moral order.

Any date but the 20th. Perhaps the 25th? It’s my mom’s birthday and, whilst she is definitely a heroine in my life, that would be a great date. 🙂 I will let you know the subject as soon as I have one. I need to mull it over for a day or three.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you about this, but if I haven’t already been assigned a date, can I get April 22 for my post? Oh, and I MAY change my topic to the Child Catcher from Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang. MAY. I’m still thinking about whether I’m going to change it, but if I do, I’ll let you know well in advance.

Been thinking about it, and I suppose I’ll brave a viewing of the Child Catcher for the blogathon. So, change mine from the Joker to the Child Catcher. Thank you for your patience as I thought about it. 🙂

Hello, again. Could I ask for one more favor, I changed my username and site name. I was hoping you could edit the above list with that in mind. Also, here’s my new url if you need it: http://thecinematicpackrat.wordpress.com/

Count me in! We actually thought about doing a villain blogathon but never got it put into motion so I’m so thrilled someone did! I would love to do Charlie from Shadow of a Doubt but I’ve already blogged on him. So, can I write on Orson Welles’ character in The Stranger?

Ruth, you, Karen, and Kristina are evil geniuses, and I mean that as a compliment!! 😀 I LOVE the idea of a Villain Blogathon! I’d love to do PSYCHO, but if it’s already spoken for, could I do SHADOW OF A DOUBT? If even they’re spoken for, no tragedy; I’ll happily root for you gals from the sidelines! 🙂 One way or another, I’m looking forward to this Blogathon! 😀

Beaucoup thanks for including me in the Villianous fun! 🙂 I’m pretty open; really, my only request is I’d really like to have my post on either a Friday or a Saturday, because it usually makes life here at Team Bartilcci easier, but even then, I’m flexible, especially for pals like you, Kristina, and Karen. Please let me know; I’m already excited to join the Villian Blogathon fun!

Ruth, Karen, Kristina, in case I’ve somehow neglected to mention it with all the flurries of Blogathon excitement on the horizon lately, YES, I’d be delighted to do PSYCHO for April 26th — it’ll be like a big finale for the Villain Blogathon! 🙂 Again, many thanks for including me in this fabulous Blogathon! 😀 I’m all excited to see everyone’s upcoming posts!

I’d love to participate! I’m doing a series on my blog this spring on Sherlock Holmes, so I’d like to contribute a post on the many incarnations of Moriarty. Most likely April 25, if that works. I could also do another day if you have a lot of posts the 25th. Thanks!

This is awesome, I’d love to take part – I don’t see any mention of Lugosi yet? If no one’s taken him, I’d love to write about him in The Human Monster (also known as The Dark Eyes of London)? or White Zombie… Oh, so many options!

Hi Becky! So glad you’re going to join in the fun! As incredible as it seems, no one but you has chosen the fab Mr Lugosi, so I have put you down for “The Human Monster”. Please let me know which date works best for you.

I’d like to participate with a blog about Conrad Veidt in A Woman’s Face. My blog is carried by our local newspaper and on Fridays I always write about a classic movie, so I’d like to request Friday, April 25th.

Hey gang- So excited to be joining this bid bad party. Don’t forget that I’m going to do both Gloria Holden and Gloria Swanson as sympathetic anti heroes, and just to make Aurora happy about Norma Desmond, who will not be portrayed as a ‘villain’ in my post, I was thinking of adding a third film… James Caan in The Lady in a Cage- Then I can really talk about his violent side, while protecting Aurora’s devotion to the of Sunset Blvd. I wonder if they’ll be as sympathetic to Bette in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? We’ll have to see.. but that’s what makes these blogathons so darn exciting!!!!! So let me know if I can do Dracula’s Daughter with Sunset Blvd and then a separate post on Lady in a Cage- You’re all fabulous….Cheers

Hey Ruth!!! I am so excited about this blogathon- There’s just so many great possibilities out there, and the list is impressive so far. Thanks so much for you three letting me come out and play with the Big Bad -Blogathon – I know both Gloria Holden and Gloria Swanson are such sympathetic anti-heroes and I would hate to have to get hit in the hit with one of Aurora’s conga drums, as she legitimately protective of Norma Desmond as I am of Baby Jane- I figured I better put a true VILLAIN in the event… Thanks so much for letting long winded me come out and play!!!!

It looks like a really impressive line-up so far. I’d love to participate. Could you mark me down for a post on Vincent Price in Dragonwyck? I don’t see him on the list yet and that just ain’t right. I don’t have a date yet (have to check my calendar) but I’ll get back to you ASAP.

May I write about classic female Disney villains? The Evil Queen from SNOW WHITE, the Evil Stepmother in CINDERELLA, the Queen of Hearts in ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Maleficent in SLEEPING BEAUTY, Cruella in 101 DALMATIANS, Madam Mim in THE SWORD AND THE STONE, and Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID. I hope these count as classic movies. I want to take a feminist film theory lens to the baddies. If you’d like me to choose another topic, I do have a backup, just let me know.

Ooh I guess I almost have to volunteer. Can I do a sort of overview? “A Necessary Evil?: The function of villainy in movies.” Since I run The Baz I’d probably build it around looking at Rathbone’s famous bad guys.

I was wondering if Johnnie Aysgarth (Suspicion) is eligible…? I know in the end we’re lead to believe he won’t murder his wife, but since the original character was a psychopath, and since even in the film there are plenty of murderous elements and intents (even if only in Lisa’s mind), I figured that such a point of view could be explored! What do you think?

Hey there! This is Emily from the Unrequited Love movie blog. I’d love to participate if it’s not too late! I would like to write on 2012’s The Bay. There are many interesting evils in this film. I can post on any day that’s free in the blogathon. Thanks! =)

I don’t see anyone doing Ming the Merciless from the three Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials and 1980 feature.
If not, he’s MINE, do you hear?
MINE!
MINE!
MINE!
(Sorry, got carried away for a second…)
Let me know what date you want…

I’m sorry to change my mind but I just realized that I absolutely must cover one of my favorite villains, Lon Chaney’s legless criminal mastermind, Blizzard, from The Penalty. May I switch over and save Mabuse for a later date? Thank you so much! (I am not usually this indecisive, too many good choices!)

Could I post on the 26th? ( Silver Scenes – The Great Race ) I got busy with a new job and forgot about the blogathon till now, so I need a little time to refresh myself on the Prof. Not that he is a forgettable character! I just want to really capture his prime moments on paper…digital paper that is.

Hey there! We’d absolutely love to have you. My internet hotspot is leaving the house where I’m at this weekend, so I have emailed my partners in crime. One of them will get back to you. I sure hope we can include Barbara Stanwyck in all of this! 🙂